Adjustable foundation structure



Feb. 6, 1951 F. e; LANGENBERG 2,540,622

ADJUSTABLE FOUNDATION STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 9, 194a I s Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 6, 1951 F. G. LANGENBERG 2,540,622

ADJUSTABLE FOUNDATION STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 9, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 6, 1951 F. e. LANGENBERG ADJUSTABLE FOUNDATION STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 061:. 9, 1946 u up. 11.9.- 1%.43);

Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STA-T PATENT OF FIQE 2,540,622 ADJEIS'EABIJE fidtnmiidnsreuercmi l t-waits G.-ns *enberg, University City, M6. Application catcher 0, 1946,-sem1 st. 70,2e0 'i c iaims. (01; 72

This invention rel ates: to improvement in wall construction, and particularly tq such construc tion formed from precast units of concrete, or like material, and the method of erecting the object of the invention; generally,-is to provide a wall construction that may be economically'erected into building structures of variousdesigns, and which, when assembled, provides a rigidan d permanent structure at a relatively low mate'rialand ere c'tionc ost'; I V A more specifl' object is tc providea wall struc:

ture comprisingspaced parallel walls formed from" slabs 'of' preformed ast; concrete, or equiva lent determine slabs of the main wall structure being gefierally rectangula'r with especially formed corner" members that cooperate with the side Wall members'to forn a continuousj angle Wall section, whereby the structure may be tied together in such nianneras toi nroviderigidity and strngtli' when the buildingstructure is 4.4. e n H Another object of the invention is t prqvide a wall structure of the type mentioned with a foundation or; footing" soconstructed and: co: o'niin'ated with" the superstructure so that the entire assembly of parts may be ac v ately leveled, thereby' avoiding any strain or stress on any part ofthe structure when the superstructure is erected. v s I s Another object of 'the mve'ntionis'm' provide in such astructure' an'im'pr oved means ior'tyifig together the separate" units n order that the several" courses; constituting the building struci ture, will be integrally united and strengthened both in alateral and verticaldire'ltion." r Another object of the inv'en'i'on is to provide animproved method of erecting awall struc ture" utilizing theflstructural parts hereinafter moreparticularly'described'; v h

Additional novel structural advantages and method stepsattained byf' the-invention willfappear from" the followingdetailed description thereof 7 taken in connection with"the---accompany ing'drawings, in which:- 7 J v I Fig l is a plan viewffo'f a secti-on of *a building structure-illustrating the tying together with the niea-nsfor supporting the levelihg' ofthe first'or lower course of the suberstructure;

Fig 2 is l a; cross section taken 'sub'stantiall y' 'on m'e1me2 zemg.1; A v Fig; 3' is "a cross section taken substantially on the'line3 3 ofFig. 1; 7, s

Fig. 4' a vertical sectional viewtakn substantially on the lined-4m Fig; 1;

' assembled;

li L L-fi essay st i iii er t6 fife: hi t with neic rs QQ r of t esune ructure ass mb ed together with the structure constituting the tie -for the corner section;

L Fig fi is a cross sectiontaken substantially qn heline, +5 Q W i vbu w i efiv nssqm- PI teeny, a, n u duq n rete. la wh h is ur d subsequently to the leveling of the first course of e a tr c e; ,7 s,

.7 is a p sp t v vi u i u piflth c e P at s t r, t n tos her t Par el sp ced we l the illustration in Fig. 1 being the form of tie te 3 ml i nin t e st co rse;

. g-.8 i a View similar o i hut lu rate? ing thestructureafter the second course'has been Fig.3 is a vertical section taken substantially onthe Iine'Q- -B rEigS; s-, 10 win r d eview i el t qn of he egzternal corner brace member twith' which the ner tie q s iwtioni as emb e 4 .7

F'g. 11 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line! l- I of Fig; 10;

F -.12 is nt isvr a uv ew wn inner tie member constituting an element of the gene eral tie structure for the corner section of the Wall; c. 'ig, 1 3 is a perspective View ofatie plate meme twn h, t e eme ts show n rise. 10 and; 12 aretied together, substantially thesame form oftie meniberbeing employed for the crosstie ofthe parallel side walls v Fig. l4 illustrates a section similar to that illustrated in Fig. 5 with modified corner units and tie construction;

Fig. 15 is a vie'w similar to Fig. 14,"but illus trating the'structure after'the second course has been assembled;

Fig 16 is a detailview of thewall corner units of" the structure shown in Figs l l and 15, the units beingseparated for clearness; V A M 0 Fig.1? is a detail view of the strutor tie meme bersemployed inthelco rner tie construction illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15 ,Fig; 18 is a view similar tdri 5, purifies further modification of the corner construction and of the corner tie structure; and

Fig"; 19 is a view similar to Fig. 1s, butlillu s tra 'ng the structure after the second course has been assemmed; I I

In accomplishingthe objects of the invention, theprog ressivestebsin the erectionof a simpie angular Wall building structure areillustrated. In each 01' the embodime ntso'f theinvention, foundation or footing is of the same construced; the next ttom of the ing a layer e layer H is aded rods [2 mbedded in d down into crete is perl in the conposition by of plates 13, rated in Fig. 'ounted over "tending the openings in plates are of the threadlates may be r be centered for efficient plates.

i on the rods ably with a p surface of f the plates, ay be accuand transve and supwalls genll, the slabs I to form the ure and the at they may at the mee corner of te with the y rectanguvided. This nner similar wall plates, instance of s of spaced st shown 1n F1 18 1s leveled by le described in on the compl bs comprisin referably of he side wall the setting and the aducture is in ooting. Inin order to footing, to u the corner ed and the 4 g the corner 4 plates l8 by a tie bar or rod 28 secured, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to the adjacent outside rods l2 of the pair of rods that support the plates l3 adjacent to the corner of the structure.

After the footing has been prepared as described and all first course slabs leveled, a massed irregular layer of concrete 2i is filled in around the base of the lower course slabs and over the leveling plates, the lower portion of the first course slabs being partially embedded in the poured layer of concrete, as best illustrated in Fig. 6. The upper portion of the laterally spaced parallel slabs, forming the inner and outer wall of the wall structure, are tied together by a specially formed tie member illustrated in perspective in Fig. 7.

It will be noted that the inner surface of the unit slabs I! are formed with T slots 22, the head of the T extended longitudinally of the slab and the vertical stroke of the T being inset in the inner surface of the wall slab. These T slots are provided at the center of the longitudinal length of each slab, and at the end of each slab are matching recesses 23 which form, when the ends of the slabs are abutted, the same T formation, half of which is carried by the end of one slab and half by the other. The specially formed tie member in the form of an I plate 25 is seated in the slots 22 and 23 and extends the full depth of each slab and is of a sufiicient height to extend above the top edge of the lower course of slabs. It will be noted that the tie members 24 for the lower course have cutout sections 25 in the Web so that they will fit over the plates and will extend downwardly to be embedded in the poured concrete layer 2 i. This method of tying the lower course of slabs gives added strength at the foot of the structure. The tie members 24 for the course above the base course are the same as illustrated in Fig. 7, except they need not have the cutout 25, and are preferably of the form shown in Fig. 13.

It should be noted that the tie members 24 are of sufficient height so that they extend the full height of the slabs and beyond the horizontal edges thereof so that, when the tie members are in place, they serve to tie the slabs forming three horizontal courses of the wall structure together.

After the poured layer 2i has set, the footing is in condition so that erection of the building may be proceeded with. It will be noted that, as I have illustrated the outer corner wall section particularly in Fig. 5, a specially formed wall unit specifically illustrated in Fig. 11 is fitted into the right angle at the corner of the outside wall course. This member comprises an angle block 26 which, for the lower course, is carried at the upper outside angle of the plate 48 as viewed in Fig. l of the drawings. Straight slots Eli are formed in this block and in the adjacent side wall units. The adjacent angle side wall units indicated by 28 are approximately half the normal length of the unit ll. Therefore, since the spacing of the plate 18 and the adjacent plates !3 is coordinated with the length of the units 28 and the outer walls of the unit 25, one end of each of the units 28, as well as the unit 26, is carried by the plate 13, and the units 28 are connected with the unit 25 by straight tie members 29 that seat in the slots 2?, and serve to tie the units forming the corner of the wall structure together. The other end of the side wall units is carried respectively by the adjacent base supporting and leveling plates l3.

Inner corner units 36 form the angle of the inner wall and are connected with the inner wall slabs by the tie members 24. The lower course tie members are formed as illustrated in Fig. 7, These corner tie members have attached to the inner face of the webs thereof inwardly opening U-shaped brackets 3i, and the heads 32 of generally I-shaped plates 33 seat in said brackets 3i. Thecon-ncc-ting webs of the I-shaped plates 33 have attached to their inner face a U-shaped bracket 36 in which theinner heads of the I- shaped plates 35 seat. The unit 26 has attached to its inner flattened face a Ushaped bracket 36, and the outer end of the members 35 seat therein.

It will be noted particularly by reference to Figs. 1i) and 12 that the member '25 that ties the bracket 36 is the height of two standard courses, and that the bracket tfi-overlaps the horizontal parting line between the courses, while the plate 33 and the bracket 3-; carried thereby are of a reduced height so that the bracket 3% supports two tie members 35, the inner ends of which are carried by separate brackets 36.

This brace structure constitutes, as will be readily appreciated, a strong connection between the corner units of the wall structure and is so constructed that it may be very readily and rapidly assembled.

In Figs. 14, and 16, there is illustrated a modification of the corner unit constructions and also of the tie members for bracing and connecting the corners of the wall. The outer corner unit t!) is in the general form of a right-angle block having bevelled extensions i! and having a slot 22 formed in each outer face. The adjacent wall units have the faces that match the corner unit 49 formed With a slot 453 and a bevelled face M complementary to the face 41 of the corner unit ii The inner wall corner unit 45 is provided with bevelled end faces 46 and with vertical slots 47, the inner adjacent wall slabs having the faces adjacent to the corner unit 45 formed with a bevelled extension 48 and with slots 19. Instead of using the generally formed T-shaped strut structure of Fig. 5, the modification of the corner structure being described employs a pair of plates 5 3 having an outer angularly deflected T-shaped extension 53 that seats in the slots 42 and 53, the web of the plate extending between the adjacent faces of the member it and the contiguous slab units, and an angularly deflected T-shaped extension 52 that seats in the slots 4? and 49, the web extending between the unit 45 and the adjacent slab units.

This construction provides a very substantial corner reinforcement which, like the structure of Fig. 5, may be very rapidly and readily assembled. It has an advantage in that, by tying the complementarily bevelled faces of the corner units and the adjacent wall slabs, the opposed surfaces tend to lock together to prevent displacement of the corner units and, when tied together by the tie members illustrated and described, the corner units form in eifect a keystone arch construction preventing longitudinal or lateral displacement of the units forming the corner of the wall structure. In other respects, the wall construction is erected in the same manner as hereinbefore described.

In Figs. 18 and 19, I have illustrated an additional modification in which is provided an outer wall corner unit to having a convex curved outer surface, the inner surface being concave, with the end faces thereof matching in parallel alignment the adjacent edges of the contiguous wall slab units, When this construction is employed, the

tie between the outer corner unit til is by means of a straight tie plate 6i that seats in vertical slots 52 in the unit as and in vertical slots 63 formed in the matching face of the adjacent Wall slab unit.

The inner wall corner unit of the modification being described comprises a curved unit 64 having its outer surface concavely curved and its inner surface convexly curved. This unit has straight vertical slots 65 in its outer vertical faces and is directly crosstied by the tie member 24 in the form illustrated in Fig. '7 for the lower course and in the form illustrated in Fig. 13 for the upper courses. With the exception of these modifications, the wall structure is the same as has already been described in connection with the other views of the drawings.

The advantage of the modification shown in Figs. 18 and 19 is that it has a degree of simplicity greater than in the other illustrations, and for some structures will be preferred because of this and also because it provides a rounded line at the corner of both the exterior and the interior of the building.

In view of the above description, it will be readily understood that I have provided a wall construction which fully accomplishes the pur-. poses of the invention and which results in a strong building structure that may be readily adapted to different designs. The structure economizes in cost of material as well as in cost of labor erection because the assembly of the preformed units may be performed rapidly and efficiently wi hout the exercise of a high degree of skill.

I have illustrated theseveral modifications in order to make a complete disclosure of the best forms in which the invention may be exemplified. It should be understood, however, that the detailed illustrations and description are not to be taken as limitations upon the scope of the invention except as expressed in the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A wall structure comprising a poured footing of concrete, threaded rods embedded in said footing and extending above the top face of the footing, adjustable base supports carried by said rods, means associated with said rods and supports for independently adjusting said supports, and a wall structure including inner and outer wall slabs arranged in'horizontal courses the base course of which is supported on said adjustable base supports.

2. A wall structure comprising a footing of poured concrete having a generally flat upper face, supporting rods embedded in said footing and extending above the upper face thereof, adjustable base plates carried by said rods, means associated with said rods and plates for independently adjusting said base plates, a wall structure mounted on said footing including inner and outer slabs arranged in horizontal courses the initial course of which is supported by said base plates, and a layer of binding material embedding said base plates after the same have been adjusted for leveling the initial course of the wall slabs.

3. A wall structure comprising a footing of poured concrete having a generally flat upper face, supporting rods embedded in said footing and extending above the upper face thereof, adjustable base plates carried by said rods, means associated with said rods and plates for independently adjusting said base plates, a wall structure mounted on said footing including in.

horizontal is supported binding mad the lower s after the footing of flat upper said footing thereof, base aded on said I base plates,

the slabs of poured footmonolithic and extendlates carried h said rods horizontally said footing thereof, the readed, nuts lates having ver the rods e plates being larger than the rods so that the plates can be adjusted horizontally, and nuts mounted on the rods above the plates.

7. A Wall structure, comprising a poured footing of material that sets to form a monolithic Wall, rods embedded in said footing and extending above the upper face thereof, the upper ends of said rods being threaded, nuts threaded on the tops of the rods, plates having openings formed therein disposed over the rods above the nuts, the openings in the plates being larger than the rods so that the plates can be adjusted horizontally, nuts mounted on the rods above the plates, 2. Wall structure mounted on said plates including inner and outer members arranged in horizontal courses, the base course of which is supported on said plates, and a layer of binding material embedding the upper face of the footing, the plates and the lower section of said base course.

FREDERICK G. LANGENBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 885,043 I-Iambay Apr. 21, 1908 2,137,759 Martin Nov, 22, 1938 2,187,752 Olsen Jan. 23, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 146,088 Germany 1936 604,92? France 1926 

